User reviews

Wile E. Coyote (Famishus Vulgarus) disappears literally in a cloud of dust that begins on the road and winds up hundreds of feet in the air as the Road Runner (Birdibus Zippibus) wins again in the opening scene of this cartoon.

Wile goes back "to the books," so to speak for his next attempt, reading "The Art Of Road Runner Trapping." According to the book, there are four steps: 1 - Dig hole in the road; 2 - Camouflage hole; 3 - Wait patiently and 4 - Eat Road Runner. Our coyote has problems with step one in a funny scene when he is unable to control the jackhammer in trying to dig a hole in the road. So much for that plan.

After that, it's brick, roadblocks, two birdseed traps, a long, long chute, a catapult, and a harpoon gun. The latter was the best "stunt" in the cartoon because it lasted a lot longer and very clever. I wish they draw out more of these ploys, because they always better than just the quick 10-second familiar-looking sight gags.

I thought the artwork was better than average in this episode, which was part of Volume Two Of The Looney Tunes Golden Collection.

The eleventh pairing of Wile E. Coyote and the Road Runner has the ever-determined coyote using the same unreliable methods against the ever-elusive bird, who seems a bit sadistic in this one. The bee gags is funny and even the now predictable gags still bought a smile to my face. And I, as always with these cartoons, found it highly enjoyable, but perhaps I'm a bit biased as Wile E. Coyote is one of my absolute favorite cartoon personalities of all time. This animated short can be seen on Disc 2 of the Looney Tunes Golden Collection Volume 2. This cartoon also has an optional music only track.

My Grade: B+

While the pacing is a little leisurely here, the cartoon is still very clever and funny. The animation is colourful and lively, and the music is pleasant. What made this one of the better, cleverer and funnier Roadrunner vs Coyote cartoons though especially were the gags. All of them work, and are hilarious- the descending down the cliff, the harpoon gag(the best of the lot I think), the one with the bees and the one with the wall. Plus the ending was funny and sweet. Roadrunner with his iconic "Meep, Meep" is likable enough, but I have always preferred Coyote, he is craftier and there are times when I feel sorry for him when his traps constantly misfire. Overall, funny and clever. 9/10 Bethany Cox

Maltese and Jones can do no wrong when it comes to writing a hilarious story. Usually we see more of Wile E. Coyote's perspective as he tries all these Acme products, but in Zoom and Bored we catch a little bit more of the Road Runner's persona and his reactions. From other shorts, we see the Road Runner merely indifferent, even amused with Wile E's attempts but in this short, our bird behaves a little more cruelly, even sadistic as he goes on the attack himself, never giving the hungry coyote a break.

Wile E. Coyote (Famishus Vulgaris), continues on his hunt to catch the Road Runner (Birdibus Zippibus).

The animators, minus Ben Washam this time, are right on cue as usual. Maltese this time almost implies through our coyote that hard labor just does not have its payoffs. Throughout the short, we see our poor coyote scale a high cliff, build a heavy boulder catapult, even create a chute around a mountain for a bomb to go down, all equaling in disastrous, amazingly quick response. Even Maltese gradually agrees this is too much, as the Road Runner pulls his final punch toward the end, and the coyote is left to ponder, "Is this really worth it?" An excellent short that I highly recommend.

More of Wile E. Coyote - aka Famishus Vulgaris - coming up with an infinite number of unsuccessful traps to catch Road Runner - aka Birdibus Zippibus. Among the gags here are a shaft to carry a bomb down a hill, a brick wall, and bees. Needless to say, Wile E. always gets what's coming to him. A previous reviewer noted that in "Zoom and Bored", we get to see more of Road Runner's personality: he is one sadistic mother (is that better than just being indifferent to surrounding events, like he usually is?).

But no matter, this is another classic cartoon. Michael Maltese always managed to write something great. Really funny.

It is amazing to make something funny that uses the same formula over and over again. 'Zoom and Bored' is another cartoon from the Road Runner vs. Coyote series and again most of the predictable gags work. The Coyote, here Famishus Vulgaris, tries to catch the Road Runner, here Birdibus Zippibus, with a harpoon gun, some bees and a brick wall. Especially the moments involving the brick wall are great and very funny.

only for the brick wall sequence I would recommend this cartoon. Fortunately other things are nice too. The sequence with the bees is pretty funny as well. Other sequences at least made me smile. Director Chuck Jones has created another fine cartoon that is quite entertaining.

Fun Road Runner and Coyote short from the great Chuck Jones. As always, the plot is standard "Wile E. Coyote chasing the Road Runner and failing" stuff. But the plots never drove these cartoons, the wonderful gags did. Here we have a number of funny bits, including the jackhammer and "The Art of Road Runner Trapping," an anomalous brick wall, ACME bumblebees, and variations on the classic ramp and catapult gags the series was known for. The animation is excellent with nice colors and fun action. The opening title sequence is a good example of how creative Chuck Jones could get with this series. The ending features one of the sign gags (you know, where the Road Runner or Coyote holds up a sign to say something to the audience). I'm not a big fan of those gags but when you see other reviewers talking about the cartoon's 'sweet' ending, that's what they're referring to. Anyway, it's a funny short but not one of my favorites. You can't go wrong with any Road Runner and Coyote cartoon by Chuck Jones, though, so give it a shot and I'm sure you'll enjoy it.

Zoom and Bored (1957)

*** (out of 4)

One of the best in the series has Wile E. Coyote trying all sorts of new tricks including bees, a brick wall, a gun and a couple bird seed traps. To me this is one of the best in the series because it seems so fresh and original, although we do get a couple repeat jokes. One of the best sequences of the series comes at the end when Wile using a rope to slide down to catch the Road Runner but instead heads straight for a train. What he does next and the sign that the Road Runner hold up is just priceless. Another great gag is the one dealing with the bees and you know how it's going to end.

Chuck Jones and his team always managed to find new and original ways of incorporating the titles into Road Runner shorts without giving the impression of the action slowing down. An extra element of speed is added by the simple yet dynamic backgrounds. One of the highlights of "Zoom and Bored" is a very surreal sequence in which While E. Coyote spies on his own behind from around the corner of a brick wall of his own design.

At this time in there career as a double act, Road Runner seemed to take an almost sadistic pleasure in pointing out to W. E. Coyote whenever he ran out of ground. R.R. also repeatedly startles W. E. by running up from behind and beeping in his ear. The strain starts to show on Wile E., who at one point even breaks character and speaks, albeit no more than yelps of pain.

The lesson learned from "Zoom and Bored" is to never try out your new Acme products in the vicinity of the highway and/or railroad!

7 our of 10